Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

State Supreme Court to Hear Oral Argument on Three Cases at Seattle University

The Washington Supreme Court’s nine justices will lunch with students, speak to classes regarding legal careers and hear arguments on real cases in a community visit to Seattle University School of Law from Monday, February 25 and Tuesday, February 26.

Oral arguments (held three times a year outside of the Temple of Justice) will be held on Tuesday, February 26 at Seattle University School of Law’s Justice Fred H. Dore Courtroom.  The arguments will be open to the public, and broadcasted at a later date via Washington’s Public Affairs network, TVW.

Beginning at 9 a.m., Chief Justice Gerry Alexander and Justices Charles W. Johnson, Barbara A. Madsen, Richard B. Sanders, Tom Chambers, Susan Owens, Mary Fairhurst, James M. Johnson and Debra Stephens will hear the following arguments on the following cases:

·        No. 79878-8 (consol. w/80309-9), Spain (respondent) v. Dep’t of Employment Security:   Whether 2006 legislation purporting to remedy a subject-in-title defect in 2003 legislation establishing exclusive “good cause” reasons to voluntarily quit without being disqualified from unemployment compensation also violates the subject-in-title requirement of article II, section 19 of the Washington Constitution.

·        No. 80081-2, Yousoufian (respondent) v. The Office of Ron Sims (petitioners):  Whether the amount of the penalty imposed on an agency for violating the Public Records Act should depend on the degree of culpability under principles of tort liability.

·        No. 81024-9, Verizon Nw., Inc. (appellant) v. Wash. Employment Sec. Dep’t (respondent):  Whether a Verizon early retirement plan for management employees constituted an employer-initiated reduction in force, entitling employees who accepted the plan to unemployment compensation benefits.

Immediately following arguments in the two cases, the justices will answer questions from the audience, then recess to conference on the cases until 12:30 p.m. Justices will then enjoy a lunch with faculty and members of the student body, and reconvene at 1:30 p.m. to hear the last case of the day, Verizon v. Washington Employment Security.

On February 25, justices will visit Seattle University Law School classrooms in the afternoon, meet with law school administrators and members of the faculty.   

The Washington Supreme Court has made community visits throughout the state since 1985, and welcomes the public to the oral arguments. Though cameras and video recorders are generally allowed, the Court asks that no flash, other lights or noisy film advance mechanisms be used during the hearings. Only one television camera will be allowed to film the oral arguments; other TV stations are asked to pool coverage.   

Written opinions are rendered approximately three to six months after oral arguments. For further information regarding the Court, visit the Washington Courts web site at www.courts.wa.gov.

Wendy K. Ferrell Judicial Communications Manager 360.705.5331 e-mail Wendy.Ferrell@courts.wa.gov

Lorrie Thompson Communications Officer 360.705.5347 Lorrie.Thompson@courts.wa.gov